Girl shot in May on Milwaukee playground dies

MILWAUKEE – A 10-year-old girl who was shot on a Milwaukee playground in May died early Sunday, authorities said.

Relatives gathered later in the day at the house where Sierra lived with her parents, Latanya Anderson and Onjuan Guyton. The playground is within sight of their front porch.

Sierra Guyton was pronounced dead at Children’s Hospital of Wisconsin at 1:35 a.m., the Milwaukee County Medical Examiner’s Office said in a statement. The office said it wouldn’t release further information and that police have put a non-disclosure order on the case.

Sierra was playing with her 12-year-old sister when she was shot in the head May 21 at on the playground at Clarke Street Elementary School, where she was in the third grade. She was taken off life support last month.

Onjuan Guyton told the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel that the loss of his daughter was “heartbreaking,” not only for his family but for the community, which was outraged by a child being shot.

“As you can see now, it’s a beautiful day, and there’s not a kid in that park,” Guyton said, looking at the playground. “Usually, that park is full.”

Two people have been charged. According to a criminal complaint, Sylvester Lewis, 18, told police he knew children were in the area when he opened fire in retaliation after a bullet whizzed by his ear during a confrontation with other men. He was charged with first-degree reckless injury and two other felonies. Another suspect, Jamey Jackson, 28, was charged with being a felon in possession of a firearm. Online court records show they have not yet entered pleas.

The incident led Mayor Tom Barrett to urge the people of Milwaukee to put down their guns.

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